Number of overnight killings up to 4, more than doubling homicides compared to last year

UPDATED:This story was updated at 8 p.m., Saturday, after D.C. police announced a fourth homicide.

Four men, including two brothers, were killed in separate incidents in the District overnight, pushing the number of homicides in the city to more twice the amount compared to the same time last year.

The first killing was a double-homicide that occurred around 8 p.m. Friday, outside the Antioch Baptist Church, in the 5000 block of Lee Street NE.

Police have identified the victims as 34-year-old Khalid Jamal Bryant and 26-year-old Jason Emmanuel Bryant. One of the brothers was pronounced dead at the scene. The second victim was taken to the hospital where he died, police said.

According to NBC4, the shooting occurred while the church was holding a children’s service inside. The congregants were escorted out the back door so the children would not see the victims.

Shortly after midnight, police responded to a report of an unconscious male in the the 3700 block of D Street SE. Upon arrival, police found a man suffering from apparent trauma to his head. The victim, 46-year-old Andre McIntyre, was taken to the hospital where he later died.

The D.C. medical examiner determined that McIntyre died of a blunt force trauma to the head and the manner was a homicide.

Later, early Saturday morning, a 51-year-old Billy Andre Harris was shot in the 4800 block of Ninth Street NW about 3 a.m. Saturday. Harris was taken to a hospital where he died.

So far this year there have been 25 homicides in the District, compared to 12 over the same period last year, according to the D.C. police. And the number of killings in 2013 rose to 104 compared to 88 in 2012.

Anyone with information about the killings is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099. Anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s text tip line by text messaging 50411.

The Metropolitan Police Department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons wanted for either homicide.